Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has claimed that he made public the photos of the first wife of NCB officer Sameer Wankhede with her prior consent.

The minister also said he has never said anything against Wankhede's current wife, actor Kranti Redkar, and she should not play the "Marathi card". Malik was asked by reporters whether it was appropriate on his part to use the photos of Dr Shabana Qureshi, the first wife of Sameer Wankhede when the couple had divorced by mutual consent some years ago. Some BJP leaders too had raised this point.